DEBRA COVERT

San Antonio, Texas 78248 210.913.8589 dcovert33@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debracovert1

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Strategic & Tactical planning Project planning Budgeting & Forecasting P&L management Data driven decision
making Cost analysis & containment Project Management & Governance LEAN, Continuous Improvement Process
and Change Management IT system integration Global procurement and vendor management Intellectual Property
Building and leading high expectation teams
Top 5 Strengths: Maximizer, Responsibility, Arranger, Belief, Self-Assurance
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Spectrum Association Management / San Antonio, Texas
7/2013 10/2015
VP of Human Resources
Based in Texas, Spectrum manages Home Owner Associations in multiple markets. Responsibilities included
recruiting, onboarding, training, and administration management for 125 staff. Training needs included needs
evaluation, competency development, content creation, delivery, and assessment. Key accomplishments:
Introduced LEAN and led a company-wide initiative squarely focused on innovating the processes that
would provide strategic market advantage. Labor and time-intensive orientation program reduced time to
deliver by 30-70%. Facilitated development of end-to-end value stream map, analyzed results, established
priorities, created roadmap, and led governance processes. Project objective was to prepare the company for
future growth by developing scalable, effective, and efficient solutions while opening up organizational
collaboration.
Created new Leadership Institute program aimed at improving cross-functional dependencies, relationships,
and knowledge across business locations.
Established a role-based playbook laying out deployable recruiting strategies for open positions.
Implemented a pre-employment traits assessment in two months from initial training to full operation for
recruiting. Workflow completely retooled, resulting in a 29% hiring rate improvement, saving $150,000 in
external hiring fees.
Developed business and system needs analysis for both the HR Information System and E-Learning
Management System (SaaS).
PCI Education / San Antonio, Texas
2011 2013
Austin-based company acquired PCI in late 2012
VP Operations
PCI published curriculum and learning material for individuals with Intellectual and Learning Disabilities. Products
utilized every mode of delivery imaginable, from print, board games, animated games, to SaaS a complex product
mix with many technical variables. I was responsible for analyzing and transforming the integration of customer
service, procurement, manufacturing, IT, and order fulfillment while collaborating with product development and
sales executives. Key accomplishments:
Reduced errant procurement by $3.4 million in 12 months, while simultaneously reducing burdensome
inventory position by 27%.
Reduced backlog from an all time one month high of $1.4 million to monthly average of $350,000 against
annual sales of $18M. Tenacious scrutiny of new daily metrics, action, and follow-up created change.
Developed cross-operational metrics and visual dashboard, improving the teams ability to recognize,
mitigate operational problems early. 94% of customer orders shipped within 3-day committed window.
Led corporate-wide LEAN initiative, aimed at blowing the dust off years old processes and bring company
up to modern capabilities. Began to incorporate sales and marketing into operations planning efforts to
make much more informed, proactive procurement decisions. Implemented full set of LEAN tools including
root cause analysis, analysis of cost drivers, audit and continuous evaluation systems, VSMs, and 5S.
Led both Operations and Product Development teams for eight months, deepening my knowledge of the
market and product side of the business.
Led needs analysis and business requirements for tech-based product delivery and, in partnership with IT,
system integration and testing.

DEBRA COVERT

210.913.8589 dcovert33@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/debracovert1

Debra Covert Consulting / San Antonio, Texas

2008 - 2013
Principal Consultant
Advised multi-national publishing companies on a variety of business needs. Long-term projects include:
360 Training (E-Learning)
Served as senior level Director for global team of publishing, editorial, and regulatory analysts until a full
time professional could be hired.
PCI Education (K-12 Education)
Worked with team of cross-functional stakeholders to create and implement Business Case development
process necessary to secure capital funding for new products. Took company from having no tools to
delivering first (and successful) Business Case in four months. From this, a top selling Reading Program was
green lighted for development.
GGS (K-16 Publishing Services)
Helped company increase market share by identifying adjacent markets, capacity patterns, and building
capability to go after new business. Generated $250,000 in new revenue in seven months in a highly
specialized market.
Kaplan Publishing (Higher Ed)
Developed internal proposal process enabling cross-divisional collaboration on new curriculum
development. Required rapid learning of extensive capabilities across multiple divisions, then knitting them
into a cohesive, cost competitive proposal to the sister company.
Pearson Assessment / San Antonio, Texas
1988-2008
Pearson acquired Harcourt Assessment in 2007
VP Publishing Operations
Led a team of 64 professionals engaged in a highly complex publishing operations supply chain. My team included
project managers, product designers, production, manufacturing, suppliers, and technology experts. Managed $30M
metrics based annual budget. Required to function independently, yet integrate with corporate initiatives, most of
which I was involved in developing at a strategic level. Industry requires flawless execution and quality output
across the entire supply chain, which set forth innovative, driven, ever-changing environment. Keen ability to
perform and execute stakeholder analyses vital to change management. Key accomplishments:
Continuous process improvements and negotiations resulted in $9.1M savings over four-year period.
Strategically reduced production supplier base by 75% and costs by 25% over three-year period. Accenture
highlighted supplier reduction strategy as being best practice across Harcourt entities.
Member of highly-empowered Harcourts Global Supply Chain Board, setting policy for multiple business
units affecting strategy for inventory, procurement, vendors, and social responsibility policies.
Collaborated on multi-business unit strategic initiative to set guidelines for global purchases. One solution
delivered $10.8M in cash and reduced inventory 7% over two years.
Developed and executed Harcourts first platform to generate on demand, actionable metrics allowing staff
to course correct early, mitigating risk to customers and the company.
Represented Business in IT platform development including needs analysis, requirements definition,
implementation and governance.
Product and process innovations led to four patents pending and one award to department Inventor.
Forged intrepid, solutions-minded team of customer-focused experts, very engaged by the challenge of
delivering zero defects.
Able to cross boundaries, approach change with respect and curiosity, bring others along and become
advocates themselves, I was often tapped to lead internal and corporate-wide initiatives at this global
enterprise.

DEBRA COVERT

210.913.8589 dcovert33@gmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/debracovert1

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
B.A. - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

El Paso, Texas

Excellence in Developing and Manufacturing Products Stanford University Executive Education

Leveraging Culture and Organization Change University of Texas Executive Education
Executive Leadership University of Texas at San Antonio
LEAN Manufacturing SouthWest Research Institute / San Antonio, Texas
Leading Change SouthWest Research Institute / San Antonio, Texas
Pragmatic Product Management University of Texas Executive Education
Strategic Planning and Linking Organizational Priorities